Berkshire Hathaway holds $397.4 billion in cash and Treasuries as of Q1 2026, Greg Abel's first quarter as CEO. The cash pile grew from $373 billion at the end of 2025 to $397.4 billion in March, large enough to acquire 476 companies in the S&P 500 outright according to data shared by Barchart. The accumulation stems from 14 consecutive quarters of net stock sales, with Berkshire offloading $24.1 billion in equities against $16 billion in purchases last quarter. At current Treasury yields, the reserves earn roughly $20 billion annually, a return Buffett defended as a baseline for evaluating business acquisitions. Abel's first quarterly filing as CEO arrives ahead of second-quarter results expected around August 3.
Berkshire Cash Reaches $397.4 Billion in Q1 2026
Barchart data shows liquid reserves climbing from $373 billion at the end of 2025 to $397.4 billion in March. The platform noted the sum is enough to buy 476 companies in the S&P 500 outright. The build-up is deliberate, with Berkshire selling more stocks than it bought for 14 straight quarters. Last quarter the firm offloaded $24.1 billion in equities against $16 billion in purchases.
At current Treasury yields, the reserves earn roughly $20 billion a year. Buffett defended that math in a recent CNBC interview, stating he can put huge amounts of money into government bonds that get 20 or 30 or 40 billion dollars a year, adding that a good business is one that earns a lot more than the returns on essentially riskless investments, which you could define as Treasuries.
Greg Abel Approves Taylor Morrison Acquisition and Alphabet Stake
Shareholders approved Berkshire's $8.5 billion purchase of homebuilder Taylor Morrison last week. Buybacks run at their fastest pace since 2021. The firm also built a $31 billion Alphabet stake, including a $10 billion private purchase Buffett says he initiated.
First-quarter operating earnings rose 18% to $11.35 billion, and net income more than doubled to about $10.1 billion. Results due around August 3 will show whether Berkshire's record cash keeps compounding. Buffett framed the choice ahead in simpler terms, stating the trick in investing is to find businesses that are going to earn high returns on capital for an extended period of time.
FAQ
What did Berkshire Hathaway report in its Q1 2026 filing?
Berkshire Hathaway reported $397.4 billion in cash and short-term Treasuries as of its first-quarter 2026 filing, up from $373 billion at the end of 2025.
Why did Berkshire's cash pile grow to $397.4 billion?
The cash accumulated through 14 consecutive quarters of net stock sales, with Berkshire selling $24.1 billion in equities against $16 billion in purchases last quarter, while earning roughly $20 billion annually from Treasury yields.
What acquisitions did Greg Abel approve in his first quarter as CEO?
Shareholders approved Berkshire's $8.5 billion purchase of homebuilder Taylor Morrison, and the firm built a $31 billion Alphabet stake including a $10 billion private purchase initiated by Buffett.
